Lahr definitely influenced Kaye. In the early '30s, Lahr was being billed as "America's most imitated comic," or something along those lines. Joe E. Brown, starring in the movie version of one Lahr's Broadway shows, made sure to study his performance so he could replicate it. Naturally, this pissed off Lahr more than a little.

As to whom influenced whom, Bert Lahr's son has spoken about how his father hated Danny Kaye because he stole Bert' act, remember Bert was almost 20 years older then Danny and had been in show business before him.

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About Me

I'm a writer and film historian who has programmed classic film events in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 30 years. These include the Pre-Code Follies at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and the KFJC Psychotronix Film Festivals at Foothill College.